Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hello all, I was banded on Oct 4th and I am very excited to be on this journey with y'all. Although I do have to admit week 1 was HELL week!!! I am prepared for ups and downs but looking foward to a healthy me!!! :cursing:

CALLING IN ALL THE VST STALLERS: Anybody had a stall for 4 weeks? If so how did you move on from it? I'm 8 weeks out. Lost 10Kgs (22 pounds) with ease in my 1st 4 weeks. However, the next 4 weeks after going from liquids to mushies - the scale has not moved and is doing my head in. Okay, so I need to get moving more, which I have been doing anyway and will up the liquid/water intake as much as I can, and monitor Protein intake more carefully. Am just feeling sorry for myself as this feels as though it will never end! I have been more compliant with my Sleeve than I ever was with my band. Today is a new record for me. No chocolate for 9 weeks. That's nev…

I was banded yesterday, and wanted to share with everybody about a very neat little gadget that I got before leaving the hospital. My Dr. said that they go to great lengths to try to ensure that you are not nauseated, and I now believe it! By the way, I have absolutely loved my Dr. He has been so great! Anyway...You may have heard of it, but I had not, and I just think this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. :cursing: It's a band that looks like a watch. The face of the band is worn on the wrist and when turned on, it releases low level electrical pulses that you feel in the palm of your hand and in your middle fingers. There are two little electrodes that touch th…

Hi , I have my consultation tommorrow at the NEW clinic with Dr Quebberman and excited to see what the whole process is. I am Located in Orange County California... Anyone have any advice i have so many questions. :cursing:

I just found out that my insurance company has approved my surgery! Now I'm just waiting for Monday so I can schedule my surgery! It will probably be in late November or mid December... Any tips on how to pass the time?

Hi all I'm in mn and am on health partners mncare and was woundering if any one else is to and what they had to do for insurance etc. I want the lap-band® and worried they won't cover it.

Hello, I'm new and banded on 12/29/2008. I've lost 7 kg. I feel great and look forward for my first fill! Don't pay attention to my English, I'm Dutch:redface:

I posted this as a response to someones concerns over a stall, but I thought it may be helpful to everyone. First off let me preface this by saying we all need to really look at our eating/snacking/water intake etc when experiencing a stall. That said my aunt (she has had no surgery) has been working out with a personal trainer for 3-4 months now and really works hard at her physical fitness just completed her monthly weigh-in where she was so bummed to learn when she stepped on the scale that she had only lost around 1.5 pounds, but when the body fat part of the weigh-in was done she had lost almost 5% of body fat. So though her pounds were low she had made some g…

Hi Everyone I am thrilled to see a site where I can learn from others, receive inspiration and may even be able to help someone else eventually. Day 5, I still burp and wind like a sailor and cannot poop. My husband commenced on the Protein shakes with me about three weeks before surgery and he has lost 5kg and is continuing his journey. He is very lucky and seems not to mind the restrictions. Can anyone share with me any nutritious recipes for the first two weeks on fluids that we can both eat and enjoy. I am absolutely determined not to undermine the LapBand and want to only eat food that will sustain not kill me. Thanks for listening and I hope to read some …

Hi, first time on here :crying: I'm from the UK and will be banded in Belgium on 13th October. I'm well researched and didn't take the decision lightly. I'm excited. Last night I went out with my partner and another couple, we had an indian banquet (I've not been advised of any pre-op diet yet); and I couldn't help wondering if, once I'm banded, I will feel on the outside of it all? Our meal took a good hour and a half. I presume the first course will be pretty much my lot in the future. I don't want to back out of these social events, but how will I cope, with sitting at a table and not eating for ages? Any tips? thanks :biggrin:

i have a male friend that had the lap band about 4 months ago and he is having a problem in the bedroom. He said he has lost his nature and he is only 40 yrs. old. Has anyone been through this or could it be not related to the band?

I am pre-op and I have been searching for threads where people talk about their stories. I have only found a couple. I'm sure there are more out there but I haven't found them. But I was thinking that something as important as that should have it's own thread and it should be a sticky so that you don't have to try to keyword search for them. I would LOVE for those who have been sleeved to tell us their story about the days that led up to surgery, the actual surgery day, and day 1 post op. But I would love to hear the details. For example, did you have to take a diuretic before surgery? I've heard that some surgeons want u to do that. What happens right after surgery (…

Hello everybody, just wanted to introduce myself real quick. My name is Cora, I am 39 years old. I am going to have my surgery on Nov. 9th, tomorrow I'll go in for all the pre-surgical stuff. My surgeon is Dr. Burnett in Albany. Everything happened so quick that I still am in a state of shock. After months of research I went to a seminar on Sept. 25, had my first appointment with the doc's assistant at Oct. 5th, my case was on my insurance's (Tricare South - military) website on Oct. 12 and I was approved 2 days later! Same day the clinic called me and said someone had canceled and if I wanted the surgery done on Nov. 9th. Crazy! :smile: Anyways, I am excited and…

Im researching my ass off, and honestly I want some serious answers from some people who experienced it. Im aware that i may have excess skin, but working out will reduce it, when i gain that muscle mass it will help with not only to get me to my goal quicker but I won't be loosing muscle mass as if I did nothing. So what Im really curious about is what is best for me to reduce the amount of skin Im left to deal with. Im 18 years old, so Im hoping my skin will be gracious, but I was wondering if any of you had any tips, suggestions, or certain workouts, that worked best for you on tightening those parts of your body especially the stomach where your left with that unwante…

Hi, I'm new here and making the first step toward lap-band® surgery -- educating myself. I'm wife to a Marine and we have 3 children ranging from 11-17 years old. We live in a suburb of Philadelphia. I first looked into this a couple of years ago and got scared with all the surgery safety warnings. Then I started seriously considering getting banded a little less than a year ago. I talked myself out of it and decided to be really serious about re-joining weight watchers. Since then I've had the diagnosis of osteoarthritis with torn menisci in both knees and I've fallen off the wagon on both my super-serious attempts with weight watchers. Sigh. I think it's time to …

Hello everyone, my name is Jacqui and I am 16 days away from getting the Lap-Band. My surgeon in Dr. John Dietrich, and he is located in Tampa, Florida. This is the very first time I have ever joined any type of support group, written a blog, or started a thread on a forum of any kind. This has been a very long, very hard journey - and I know the toughest part is yet to come. I have a wonderful husband, and awesome friends and family that have been uber supportive, but I can honestly say that none of them truly know what this has been like for me. I have been reading through many of the threads on here and I can finally say (without sounding cliché, I hope) I finally…

Hey, I got my surgery 7 wks ago. I healed up and got my first fill at 4 weeks, then went back 2 wks later since it was not tight enough. For about 2 days after the second fill I could not keep anything but about two bites down. I just "spat up" (no real stomach acid, just stuck in my throat). Then half way through the third day I was able to eat a little more, but then really threw up for the first time. Ever since that I've been able to eat about 1 cup of food, and have not had any problems with it getting stuck. I get full fast and stop eating, so that is good, it is just that the sudden change rather worried me. Could I have I damaged/loosened something when I…

Hi everyone. I'm new here. My surgery date is just less than a month away and I can't stop thinking about all the foods and amounts of foods that I will not be able to eat soon. Did anyone else go through the Last Supper Syndrome?

Hello, all. I am a new member of this forum, and it is just over 2 weeks until my banding procedure. I feel odd even writing this, because getting to this point has been quite a process - and part of me wonders if it will happen. I have thought about pursuing surgery for a long time -- at least five years, I think -- and I have spent over 1.5 years trying to get to this point, given bumps in the road, largely from the insurance company perspective. My surgery date is November 3 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; my surgeon is Dr. Malcolm Robinson. I continue to struggle with trying to achieve pre-op weight loss and hope that my lack of progress in that …

Hi everyone, I am 3 days post op and everything seem to be ok. During my surgery they found I also had a hernia that needed to be repaired. So between the band placement and the hernia repair I have a bit of pain in the middle of my chest. I know it will be ok eventually. Right now I believe gas is making the opening spaz. Im not loving gas pain. Ive tried gas-ex so far some of the bigger pain is gone but now this fluttering is annoying. My incisions are tight as is the muscle beneath but as I slowly stretch and get moving it becomes easier to move. Anyways.... The gas is HORRIBLE!!!

Finally checked out a free lap-band seminar after years of procrastinating. I think I'm really gonna go through with it now. Ive debated for years with people telling me "U can do it alone, you're just being lazy", "you're just not trying hard enough" or "when you're really ready to do it you will". Well Ive been really ready to do it for a long time and I have been trying as hard as I can. So here we go, I really think it's time that I just do what I feel is right and ignore all those bitches. Anyway, I'm 26 years old, 5'6" 360 lbs. I have 2 beautiful children; 5 and 2. They are my motivating factor. I wanna be able to take them to the park and play wi…

Hello lap banders, I am new to the site and I am here to learn...My bestest of friends got the LAP-BAND® 1 year ago...It was a long road but her family was very supportive. We recently were talkin about how as a lap bander she would ask herself if some of the things she was experiencing were a "normal" part of the healing process (nose pain anyone??) We were able to find so many things in the discussion board! Not to mention that once we read it we figured out that being scared is a normal thing and that it's ok to ask questions... so here goes: Is there anyone willing to participate in an interview with us? We are trying to put together a series of "is this normal?" …

Hello, I was just banded on October 11, 2010. My surgery was done by Dale Mortensen in Great Falls, MT. I was very excited to start this journey. My first doctors appointment was September 1. I started the pre-op diet on September 18 at 293 lbs and was at 280 when I entered the hospital on October 11. I am 51 years old and struggle now to lose weight with all the yo yo dieting I have done over the years. I have managed to lose weight over the years but always gain it back. I pray the lap band is my answer.:thumbup:

I'm new here. I usually reside over at Obesity Help. Just found this site. I'm Kristen, 36 years old. I was banded on February 3rd, 2010, the same day my husband was. I have lost 39 pounds of 88 total. Starting weight: 225, current weight: 186, goal weight: 137. I just ran my first 5k on Saturday. The couch to 5k program really works!

I just wanted to check in. I hit the "magical" 50lbs today! I'm about 2.5 months post-op and things are great. A couple of fun things to Celebrate as well. I haven't seen the 200s in a very, very long time. It was fun to see 299 on the scale for the first time in years! My brother brought me a few pairs of his jeans (from when he was a little bigger). They were smaller than anything I've worn in the last 10 years and they fit!!! Designer jeans in "my size" now!!! I'm wearing a pair right now. All those belts I've bought in stores over the last 10 years are starting to fit too. You know those belts, the ones you buy because you hope they'll fit you on the…

Hey Everyone It was my 27th birthday this week, and I went out for a family meal. Was lovely to get dressed up and feel sexy for once! I'm one month out tomorrow, and down 20lb. Feel fantastic! Here are my TERRIBLE before pics, and a couple from tonight. Be gentle! xxxx

Allright I have been sitting back and reading every post of here for the past month-ish and Now I think I will write about me. Im 24 I live in Vancouver Canada, I have a 4.5yr old little girl. All my life I have been overweight. I did weight watcher when I was 12 I think maybe even 11.. and until now ive tried it probly 8 times.........when I was 15 it Turned out I had a mass ovarian cycst (22lb tumor) I was huge !!!anyways long story short ...I had major surgery, had to be on bedrest for 3 months. I gained more weight again since I couldnt do anything really! finally I was ona family road trip and in a magazine I bought was a free "south beach diet" book my mom read …

Hi there, Its great to have found this forum. I am hoping to have gastric band surgery next month with Dr. Chris de Bruyne. I have been yo yo dieting for twenty years and have tried all weight loss methods including weightwatchers, slim fast, hypnosis, lipotrim, atkins diet, educogym, curves, walking 30 miles per week, going to the gym for 4 hours per week and weight training. I now weigh 14 and two pounds and am 5ft 2 inches. I suffer from high cholesterol, an underactive thyroid, weight related depression and insomnia. I have no quality of life and rarely socialise due to my weight. I have fluctuated between 9 and 16 stone over the past fifteen years and fee…

Hi everyone. I had my vertical sleeve surgery on Sept.1, 2010. At first I had buyer's remorse, but steadily it has gotten better. I am down from 319 to 281 in 6 weeks and life is getting better. My energy is returning and I can go shopping without feeling weak. I even rode a bike for a short distance yesterday for the first time in 10 years! It is amazing how many things I have found I can do since losing just this amount of weight. When I lose 100 lbs. I will probably feel I can jump over the moon...ok maybe not! Looking forward to getting to know everyone on the forum.

I have been reading everyones threads, with all the pain and how they couldn't eat this or that. I am not tough at all, but the most pain I had was from the tube down my throat. I am 3 1/2 weeks post-op and I feel no restrictions in my drinking or eating. I stayed on liquids then went to soft-mushy foods and have not had any discomfort at all. I had my first fill, hoping that I would feel some restrictions, but I have nothing. I can eat and drink just like I did pre-op. Is something wrong????

I discovered this site a couple weeks ago and I'm hooked. Everyone on here seems very sweet and helpful. I'll be going to my last nutrition class next month and after that its insurance approval time. Hopefully I'll be getting sleeved in January 2011!

I've been lurking here for a bit and thought I should introduce myself! I decided to have weight loss surgery a few years ago but have had some issues with insurance, and then real life got in the way. Finally, I'm back on track and I'm scheduled for my first consultation on 10/29. I've been reading here as well as another board. I have decided on the sleeve for several reasons (no foreign device, no rerouting of intestines, no malabsorption.) My family is nervous but supportive. My husband has kept pretty quiet about it, but will ask a question here or there. I have three young children at home, a five year old girl and six year old twin boys. I'm going to school…

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica and I had my surgery on 10/13/09. I keep seeing all this talk about bandster hell and I guess I'm there. I'm starving! Protein shakes and strained soups really can get you down in the dumps when you're being bombarded by ads on tv, radio, and everywhere with all the yummy food I love so much. I've been on the liquid diet preop one week and until next tuesday. I have had a few things like some string cheese I chewed to death and some small chicken bites in my soup and I regret it but you know what, I'm human and I've done so well so far so I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I'm 22 pounds down so far. I love that but it also disappoints…

Hi everybody, I am new on this site. I am 55 y.o and need to lose 75 pounds. I have been on a diet all my life since the age of 18 , and my weight increased each time ... well you know the story... I am planning to have the Lap band Surgery but I am not sure if I should follow another diet before (you know the last chance diet). If someone could answer my questions it would help me a lot to take the good decision: 1. With the lap band installed, does that mean that I will need to be on a diet anyway? 800 cal, extra small portions...and will my body react against the privation (compulsive eating, always thinking about food...?) as it happens with a regular diet? …

I'm not sure what to do next. What's a thread?

Hey everyone... new here! Still going through the process of appointments etc... but I'm so excited! My cousin is at her 2 year anniversary and has nothing but good things to tell me about her experience. She told me about this site and I feel that one of the best tools you can have is a great support system. This seems like one more good tool to have on this journey..I've enjoyed reading the information here.

Hello everyone. I have made the decision to begin the Lap Band journey....seminar, consultation down. Pre-op testing to begin next week, individual and group diet consultation the week after. I am very, very new to the process. I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me. I am thankful that I found this group to help me get through it.

A couple of months ago I read a suggestion that private pay patients use complicationinsurance.com if their doctor did not carry BLIS insurance. I went to the complicationinsurance.com website and can't fine where it says it covers vertical sleeve surgery. Does anyone know if this is still available? Thanks.

Hi everyone, I am Ali and have always been overweight. I decided to take a stand and do something about that weight because I can't even tie my shoe lace w/out getting out of breathe. I want to live a long life next to the company of my children. I lose weight but gain it back plus some very fast so I decided to do the lap band. I don't know why I waited so long to do it, since my ins covers 100 percent any procedure I want done....... I however am scared of the afterwards, will I be able to get used to the new me? How does everyone get through that part? I guess I can ask the PSYCH MD once I see him in NOV. I already consulted with my MD, I have the sleep study next week…

Hi! I am DRP. I am getting banded on Thanksgiving day with Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Tiajuana, Mexico. Is their anybody else out there who might be starting this journey about the same time? Keep me posted so we can support each other!

I got banded Oct.1!! First week all I really had for breakfast lunch and dinner was liquid vicodin! I was in alot of pain and felt extremely full of air and gas on my left side where the port is. I have a swollen bump where my port is..that's where all my pain is no where else. Doctor said it should heal with time he said it's like a bruise with blood on the inside. Other than that im feeling alot better. Today is 15 days later and a huge difference from last week. Still on liquids been making chicken soup like crazy and just drinking protein drinks and water. My husband took 2 weeks off work to help me, I'm a stay home mom with 4 beautiful kids so my days are hecka busy …

I'm home from my surgery this morning and although I am a little sore and a little groggy, I'm feeling pretty good. I went in for surgery at 7:45am and I got home from the hospital at around 1:00pm. I'm so happy to be home and banded!! My little boy (3 years old) came running up to me when I got home and he saw a bandaid on my hand from the IV and he said "Oh mommy you got a boo-boo. Are you sad?" When I said No, he said "Ok, I love you". That was the best part of my day.

I just wanted to say 'thank you' for all the information, suggestions and guidance this site is providing for the new people. I have read and re-read tons of information and now I feel like I am going in circles:tongue2: I am being banded on Nov 17th and I am extremely happy but at the same time very nervous! Thanks again and I hope to keep up with peoples stories as we all have chosen a wonderful journey together!!!

Hey guys! I'm so excited. I finally got a surgery date for October 20, 2010. To date I've lost 14 pounds on the high protein shake diet. My nutritionist says I should lose between 80 to 110 pounds with surgery. It seems impossible but I'm willing to do my part. I realize that this surgery is a "tool" to become a healthier person. It's not a magic wand and I still have to work at it with following all the instructions, exercise, etc. My day is finally almost here and I am more than ready. I would appreciate all of your prayers! Thanks and God Bless!

So I have been wanting the Sleeve for sometime now but am stuggling to find a reputable doctor in my area (Scottsdale, AZ) and how I can come up with this money since my insurance will not cover the surgery. Can anyone help?

First offical post...newly banded! I am a 30yr old female living in TX. I have a 4 year old daughter and I am unmarried. THE BAND... Only one week out and still in some discomfort. Dealing with trapped gas in my left shoulder area. Hopefully it will all get better as the days go by. I was looking for other newbies to compare my experiences with. In this fist week I dropped 17lbs. Is it normal to drop so quickly the first week? Will I gain in back when I begin eating "real" foods? Anyone at the same stage looking for someone to share experiences, storys, questions, concerns with...let me know!

I am been doing research on the Band and found this site via LapBandTalk.com. It wasn't until I met with my surgeon that I really started to consider the sleeve instead. I've started doing some more research and I am now leaning more towards the sleeve then the band. Then today, I saw another post on LBT about how Tricare wouldn't cover the sleeve so I'm back to the unknown at this present time but if I can get approved then I do think the sleeve is the way I want to go! DH and I are both getting surgery done. He is retired Army (just recently, because of a medical board) so we have Tricare Prime and are being seen at an MTF. I have seen the surgeon, got my lab wor…

I am new to this group. I was "banded" last week, Wednesday, Oct 6th. I have been home recovering. Doing good. I am on liquid diet stage and starting to run out of things to "eat". I am looking for support from others and ideas on how to forge ahead and foods to eat. I return to work next week and have all day meetings that I know will be a challenge. Looking forward to advise, encouragement and good conversation.:smile2:

Hello, I am new here and need an advise .. I have been approved for the surgery with Dr. Jossart and really need the surgery ASAP due to other health issues, however when I called to schedule a surgery -it seams that Dr. Jossart is no longer with the lapsf office and they don't have or don't want to provide his contact information. Not sure what to do..

I feel like I've been waiting for this day to arrive forever. In a few hours I'll be headed to the hospital for my surgery. I'm the first scheduled surgery that my doctor has. So in about 7 1/2 hours I should be ready to be banded. I'm so excited that I can't sleep. Good luck to anyone else getting banded today!